Hi everyone,
I'm new to Unimogs, but not offroading. I am very mechanically inclined and don't mind wrenching on a project(you have no idea). I am working on growing my family and having more seats and more room is moving on up the priority list for me. I also do a lot of heavier towing and am thinking about using the potential candidate 'Mog to help build a house up in the mountains in the near future. This is my current rig, which I am hoping the Unimog will replace:
It is 2WD, I want 4WD. I also would like a crane and I have seen several mogs with them. My current rig is also "high speed challenged", so no worries there. It's a 10 speed with airbrakes and I used to drive semis once upon a time ago, so a large mog doesn't worry me in the least.
I have been looking mainly at the "square body" mogs out therein the 25 and older range, would like a Doka even though they are rare, and of course, have plenty of questions. So in no particular order, here goes:
-I know everyone on here recommends going through an importer or just buying a mog in the states. I definitely want to import. Being an avid DIY guy, I have urges to do it myself, but I will bow to your collective wisdom and forego that route. The one thing I would like to know is what the average importer charges. I am willing to pay for a service, but I want to gauge how reasonable it is. The state I live in shouldn't prove to be much of an issue with the DMV and I have dealt with them over the years with several "creative" vehicles with little to no issues.
-How long do the OM352's and 366's last? Are we talking semi-truck lifespans of 1,000,000 miles or more towards their smaller consumer diesel brethren like 200,000-400,000?
-If you were going to already import one of these(likely from Europe) what else would you have picked up in advance in the way of spares/accessories/mods/options/etc? As a sidenote, is there a good place or places that have these items readily available?
-Is there anything you have regarding lessons learned or things you would have done differently?
-I see three different lug patterns out there. Are there any hard and fast rules dictating which axle type has what bolt pattern and are any of those bolt patterns going to have weird, possibly expensive sized tires to worry about. Which size/pattern has the best options for tires I guess is what I am saying.
As another note, I work primarily in Afghanistan right now on a rotational basis, so stopping off in Europe on the way back and forth is definitely on the table. I would love to go see a potential mog(s) in person, but I want to go in there knowing the most I can in advance.
I'm new to Unimogs, but not offroading. I am very mechanically inclined and don't mind wrenching on a project(you have no idea). I am working on growing my family and having more seats and more room is moving on up the priority list for me. I also do a lot of heavier towing and am thinking about using the potential candidate 'Mog to help build a house up in the mountains in the near future. This is my current rig, which I am hoping the Unimog will replace:
It is 2WD, I want 4WD. I also would like a crane and I have seen several mogs with them. My current rig is also "high speed challenged", so no worries there. It's a 10 speed with airbrakes and I used to drive semis once upon a time ago, so a large mog doesn't worry me in the least.
I have been looking mainly at the "square body" mogs out therein the 25 and older range, would like a Doka even though they are rare, and of course, have plenty of questions. So in no particular order, here goes:
-I know everyone on here recommends going through an importer or just buying a mog in the states. I definitely want to import. Being an avid DIY guy, I have urges to do it myself, but I will bow to your collective wisdom and forego that route. The one thing I would like to know is what the average importer charges. I am willing to pay for a service, but I want to gauge how reasonable it is. The state I live in shouldn't prove to be much of an issue with the DMV and I have dealt with them over the years with several "creative" vehicles with little to no issues.
-How long do the OM352's and 366's last? Are we talking semi-truck lifespans of 1,000,000 miles or more towards their smaller consumer diesel brethren like 200,000-400,000?
-If you were going to already import one of these(likely from Europe) what else would you have picked up in advance in the way of spares/accessories/mods/options/etc? As a sidenote, is there a good place or places that have these items readily available?
-Is there anything you have regarding lessons learned or things you would have done differently?
-I see three different lug patterns out there. Are there any hard and fast rules dictating which axle type has what bolt pattern and are any of those bolt patterns going to have weird, possibly expensive sized tires to worry about. Which size/pattern has the best options for tires I guess is what I am saying.
As another note, I work primarily in Afghanistan right now on a rotational basis, so stopping off in Europe on the way back and forth is definitely on the table. I would love to go see a potential mog(s) in person, but I want to go in there knowing the most I can in advance.